Re: Royal Enfield Meteor 350 to be launched on November 6 Quote:
Originally Posted by ebonho I was merely trying to understand what was so great about this beauty in 2020 than any other pre 1950s bike of the same capacity and number of cylinders (from the same manufacturer).
Unless it is the fact that we finally have an Indian RE that crosses (somehow) 160 kmph.
Something the Brit ones did more than 60 years ago. |
It's a retro classic you see the Interceptor 650 although the original one had 100cc more. Maybe RE chose 650cc for licensing reasons. The new Triumph Bonneville air cooled, Kawasaki W800 and now the Honda H'ness have power figures closer to their original predecessors. BTW what's ones average riding "legal" speeds on a typical Indian Highway leave alone cities. Besides which other Indian manufacturer or otherwise provides British Retro Classics in 600+cc class in 3 lakhs range? Quote: Attachment 2071481
Being a Bulleteer myself, I can tell you that this is closer to the truth than obfuscation (in my opinion) about being unworried about bhp and torque. |
Contradicting above statements eh'. Quote:
Traditionally when bikers speak about "the ton" they mean 160 kmph, and yes the Interceptor (barely) gets past that.
Thankfully. Because it would have been most embarrassing if it did not.
Never mind the fact that they had to add 300 cc and an additional cylinder to get there.
That's like giving a heavyweight a gold medal for competing in (not winning) a welterweight bout.
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An air-cooled 650cc engine hitting those speeds in a "Standard" retro classic design isn't that bad. This is considering the Kawasaki W800 tops out at 177 KMPH and Triumph Bonneville 800 air cooled tops out a 185 KMPH. So a 650cc topping out at 160 isn't that bad leave alone embarassing. Quote:
Originally Posted by ebonho Surrounded by old Bullet buddies trying to convince/sell me on the Interceptor as if it's some brilliant previously unheard of coup pulled off by RE.
So thought I'd finally take the plunge and ask.
Can you explain to me what is so beautiful about a 650 cc twin pushing out 45 bhp? And wheezing its way (finally) past the ton? In 2020?
When its original in 1965 developed 52 bhp and hit 100 mph in 13 seconds flat (quicker finally than both Norton and Triumph) and topped out (bone stock) at over 185 kmph. And weighed 22 kilos less than the modern marvel out of Chennai? |
Pasting it again here. It's a retro classic you see the Interceptor 650 although the original one had 100cc more. Maybe RE chose 650cc for licensing reasons. The Triumph Bonneville air cooled, Kawasaki W800 and now the Honda H'ness have power figures closer to their original predecessors. BTW it would have been better if you also included the price differential between Triumph and RE in their current offerings in retro classic Motorcycles. Norton is out because it is dead for now. Which other Indian manufacturer or otherwise provides British Retro Classics in 600+cc class in 3 lakhs range? Quote:
Originally Posted by ebonho RE is a very old company. It has its own characteristic DNA. I know personally as riders many of the guys working there. There is a very close connect between RE and Poona and what happens inside, deep inside, is known (and tried) here first. And a lot of the design cues of the newer models have grown as the germs of ideas and raw prototypes on the streets of Poona more than a decade , a decade and a half ago. It's literally like what was done by mechanics and fabricators on one off bikes is now being done by the company.
This story goes back to 2002-2003. |
If this is true then it's really hilarious. Quote:
Originally Posted by ebonho Most old school Bulleteers owned both the std 500 and the AVL 500 and most will say they love the std more for sentimental purist reasons but the AVL was the best allround 500 that RE ever made. With that lovely gearbox.
No other motor since then came close. The UCE is a ghastly characterless boring motor. Sorry but there just isn't anything nice I have to say about it. That's the last RE I owned.
I'll call the lean burn AVLs Bullets for the same reason. Not the Thunderbird's of course. But the Bullet officially died (was killed) post the UCE and everything since. |
That's just your opinion, the UCE motor I meant. Having owning the CI350, AVL 350 and UCE500 I feel UCE has a character of its own especially once it crosses the first 10,000 kms mark. Did you know the AVL 350 Thunderbird uses the same engine you call LB AVL's.
Bullet is still alive and kicking in its UCE and soon OHC form. The sales numbers speak for themselves. Besides emission norms forces any and every manufacturer to ditch old motor designs. Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, BMW R9T, Honda CB1100, etc. Those models are still selling with the same badging akin to "Bullet".
[/quote] Quote:
Originally Posted by ebonho The old joke among Bulleteers is that if RE could increase bhp and top speed like the number of engines they churn out, we would be having 200+ fireballs right now.
Instead 120 is still their wheezy top speed ... slope and tailwind cooperating. |
You see another retro classic from Yamaha called SR400 tops out at 130 odd KMPH considering it has a 50cc advantage over the upcoming Meteor. Not sure if I should also include the Benelli Imperiale 400 which tops out at 120 KMPH as well. About the Honda H'ness 350 it too tops out at 125 KMPH if the figures floating around Internet are to be considered. Comparison in the same category (read Retro Classic) is logical, ain't it?
Last edited by navin_v8 : 24th October 2020 at 22:10.
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